Praying for Egypt today...

Alicia | a love for africa

October, 2009 I boarded a four-seater toy plane heading to Northern Kenya.  My purpose was to capture stories.  Me and my teammates had heard of the major drought in that area and wanted to see it for ourselves in order to tell the story of those living in that area.  Nomads...always in search for the water.  When we got off the plane and walked around I remember the feeling of literally being in the middle of nowhere.   There was desert for miles and miles.  And the water?  Yeah...those people have to walk miles and miles to haul it on their backs or heads all the way back to their village.  More on this later... for now, this story is about my friend, Alicia.  I met Alicia the first night of my stay in the desert.  The moment she and her friend, Jamie, walked through the door of the home I was staying at, they greeted me with a warm Texan welcome.  Yes, Alicia is a Texan through and through and yet gave up the comforts of home to live in the desert of Northern Kenya to teach Rendille students.   I had the privilege to sit in on her classroom one day.  It was amazing to witness her love for these students as she taught with patience and joy. 

Alicia is one of those people that I feel privileged to know.  Her fiery personality can brighten anyone's day.  And her sass?  Yeah, well...she's got it!  She came to Virginia last week to visit the east coast.  During one of our conversations about Africa,  I asked her if she wanted to go back someday, despite all the hardships over there.  "YES" was her response as she gave me the 'are you crazy???' look.  In fact, she is planning to go back sooner than later.  I'm so excited for her as she is gearing up and heading back to the Land we both love so much, Africa.  I was honored to take photos for her new prayer card.

Alicia, thank you for being faithful and putting aside the comforts of this world.  Thank you for being a light to Africa!  Oh...and.....can I come visit???

We stopped by an antique store and found these incredible glasses.  We figured these would make the pictures even better!  These next pictures are why I love this girl so much!

my 2010

As I woke up this morning, sun splitting through the blinds, I couldn't help but lay and think.  Sure, I have things to do today...lots of them, but today is the last day of 2010 and I can't help but be sentimental.  I thought a lot about this last year.  So much has happened in a year, so many memories, so many changes.  I used to hate change.  I still have a love/hate relationship with it, but I've learned to roll with it.  It comes, it goes, but it will always come again. A year ago, I found myself repacking my suitcase.  I had had a wonderful Christmas at home but was ready to return to the land I love so much, Africa.  I boarded my plane, ready for a new year but fearful.  I had already complete a very challenging year in Kenya. There were so many unknowns ahead of me, so many potential changes, but one thing I knew for sure...Africa.  I knew my mind had to fully be engaged in Africa again and not worry about the unknowns.  Words of a missionary martyr, Jim Elliot, challenged me in this area, "Wherever you are, be all there." I continued to remind myself of this quote.  The next six months in Africa were my strongest months there.  I fell in love all over again with the continent and the people.  Fear no longer consumed me.  I finally had let go and allowed change to happen.  Just as I was finally settling, the Lord stirred my heart and began to prepare me for another change... back to the U.S.  This change was harder for me.   Six months have passed since my return and I believe I'm finally getting used to living in the U.S.   Many changes have happened in these 6 months including my move to Richmond, VA.  Although change is hard for me, I always look back and am thankful for the way it has shaped me.  Although my heart often longs to return to Africa and I know I will someday, I'll remember those words..."Wherever you are, be all there."

I'm thankful for 2010.  I'm thankful for all the unknowns, the fears, and the changes wrapped up in this crazy last year.  Here are some images collected during my time in Africa.  I'm sure you will see these scattered throughout my blog in the future.  When I look at each of these photos, I'm back there.  Behind the camera.  In Africa...feet caked with mud, clothes faded from the sun, sweaty, and loving it. 

Happy New Year!

San Diego, California

Two weeks ago I boarded a plane for San Diego, California.  My birthplace.  I was going to visit a friend from Kenya who is in the States right now.  It was an incredible visit.  I enjoyed catching up with friends and visiting places I used to go to when growing up. Although I brought my camera, I barely took it out.  I can't really explain why other than I think my soul needed the rest.  I needed to recharge how I see things...not just how I view the world creatively behind my lens but how I view the world around me everyday.  I find joy in capturing a moment in a photo but for these past few weeks, I found joy in living each moment and letting them pass.  I saw so many beautiful sunsets and incredible scenery and yet I allowed myself to keep my camera by my hip and soak in the raw beauty.  Eventually I ventured out with my camera so that I could bring some photos home for my own souvenirs. Ironically most of the days I intentionally brought my camera, the weather was very foggy and the light dim.  Nonetheless, I'm glad for the majority of the time, I rested. I wanted to see the amazing scenes before me without having anxiety of whether or not I was capturing it the best way possible.  You will just have to take my word for some of the things I saw...breathtaking.

Change is a good thing

I realize that I've done a terrible job at keeping my blog up to date with changes occurring in my life.  I wrote a few weeks ago about my internship with Casey Templeton, a very talented photographer in Richmond, VA.  It was an incredible blessing to intern with Casey.  Please check out my guest blog post about my experience HERE.  If any of you asked me a few months back what my future would look like, I probably looked at you with a blank stare.  I had no idea.  I had ambitions and dreams...lots of them, but solidifying where I would be, when, and how was overwhelming to me.  I had just transitioned back to America and wanted to start my own photography business.  Countless of you encouraged me to follow my dreams and start Kate Magee Photography but the "HOW" continually held me back.  Once my internship with Casey began it was like my life began to catch up with my dreams.  I learned so much during the internship.  I fell in love with Richmond, VA and the people within the city.  As my internship was wrapping up Casey asked how I would feel to stick around Richmond and be an associate of his.  The opportunity was overwhelming yet it didn't take long for me to accept.  I'm excited to call Richmond "home" and slowly transition my life down south a bit.  I usually say that change is hard...but in this case, change is a good thing.  A really good thing.